Orchitis Causes

Both bacteria and viruses can cause orchitis. 

• Bacteria that commonly cause orchitis include Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus.  A prostate infection may occur in conjunction with orchitis.  Epididymitis (inflammation of the tube on the back of the testicle) can lead to orchitis.
  
  
• Bacteria that cause sexually transmitted diseases (STD), such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis, can cause orchitis in sexually active men, usually aged 19-35 years.  You may be at risk if you have many sexual partners, are involved in high-risk sexual behaviors, if your sexual partner has had an STD, or if you have a history of STDs.
  
  
• The virus that causes mumps can cause orchitis as well.  Most common in young boys (rare in boys younger than 10 years), orchitis begins 4-6 days after mumps begins.  A third of boys will develop orchitis from mumps and end up with a condition called testicular atrophy (shrinking of the testicles).  That's why it is so critical for all children, boys especially, to have shots to protect them from getting the childhood disease of mumps.
  
  
• You may be at risk for non-sexually transmitted orchitis if you haven't had proper vaccination against mumps, if you get urinary tract infections, if you are older than 45 years, or if you frequently have a catheter placed into your bladder.